Coldplay

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About Viva La Vida

"Viva la Vida" (, Spanish: [ˈbiβa la ˈβiða]; Spanish for "Long Live Life") is a song by British rock band Coldplay. It was written by all members of the band for their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008), and was released as the second single from the album. On the album, this song segues directly into the next track, "Violet Hill". The lyrics to the song contain historical and Christian references, and the track is built around a looping string section in unison with a digital processed piano, with other layers gradually being added as the song builds. The song was released on 13 June 2008 as the album's second single, debuting to critical acclaim and commercial success. "Viva la Vida" reached the top spot of the UK Singles Chart and Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's first number-one single in both the U. S. and U. K. The song won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009. The song became the sixth song to reach the 4 million mark in paid downloads in the United States. It has sold over 7.1 million copies worldwide by 2014, and over 6 million in the U. S. alone by June 2013.more »

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I used to rule the worldSeas would rise when I gave the wordNow in the morning, I sleep aloneSweep the streets I used to ownI used to roll the diceFeel the fear in my enemy's eyesListen as the crowd would singNow the old king is dead! Long live the king!One minute I held the keyNext the walls were closed on meAnd I discovered that my castles standUpon pillars of salt and pillars of sandI hear Jerusalem bells are ringingRoman Cavalry choirs are singingBe my mirror, my sword and shieldMy missionaries in a foreign fieldFor some reason I can't explainOnce you go there was never, never a honest wordAnd that was when I ruled the worldIt was a wicked and wild windBlew down the doors to let me inShattered windows and the sound of drumsPeople couldn't believe what I'd becomeRevolutionaries waitFor my head on a silver plateJust a puppet on a lonely stringOh, who would ever want to be king?I hear Jerusalem bells are ringingRoman Calvary choirs are singingBe my mirror, my sword and shieldMy missionaries in a foreign fieldFor some reason I can't explainI know Saint Peter won't call my nameNever an honest wordBut that was when I ruled the worldOh, oh, oh, oh, ohI hear Jerusalem bells are ringingRoman Calvary choirs are singingBe my mirror, my sword and shieldMy missionaries in a foreign fieldFor some reason I can't explainI know Saint Peter won't call my nameNever an honest wordBut that was when I ruled the world

The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com

Coldplay

Coldplay are a British Alternative Rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish.Will Champion joined as a drummer, backing vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, completing the line-up. Manager Phil Harvey is often considered an unofficial fifth member. The band renamed themselves "Coldplay" in 1998, before recording and releasing three EPs; Safety in 1998, Brothers & Sisters as a single in 1999 and The Blue Room in the same year. The latter was their first release on a major label, after signing to Parlophone. more »

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Written by: Christopher A. J. Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, William Champion

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

10 facts about this song

Record Success

"Viva La Vida" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100, being Coldplay's first and only song to date to reach the top of either chart.

Song Composition

The track incorporates influences from orchestral and world music, with Chris Martin’s voice hovering over grand strings, pounding percussion, and a sing-along church choir.

Inspiration

The song was inspired by a painting from Mexican visual artist Frida Kahlo titled “Viva La Vida - Watermelons.” The painting and the title depicted Kahlo's spiritual survival after numerous heartbreaks and suffering.

Awards

"Viva La Vida" won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, marking a significant achievement for Coldplay.

Unusual Launch

Coldplay chose to unveil this song at an unlikely location – the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, this was the first live performance of the song.

Lyric Interpretation

The song's lyrics are a tale of a king's fall from grace, which are told by the king himself. There are countless theories about who this king might be, ranging from King Louis XVI to King Solomon, but the band has never confirmed any.

Production

The song was produced by legendary music producer Brian Eno, known for his work with U2 and David Bowie. His influence helped Coldplay to bring out a more experimental sound in the album.

Lawsuit

Coldplay faced a plagiarism lawsuit over Viva La Vida from guitarist Joe Satriani, who claimed that the song copied parts of his track 'If I Could Fly'. However, the case was dismissed in 2009.

Applications in Pop Culture

"Viva La Vida" was used in promotional materials for the CBS drama "Viva Laughlin," which was based on the British show "Blackpool" that featured its characters frequently bursting into song.

Album Success

The song is the title track of their fourth studio album, 'Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends', which sold over 10 million copies worldwide. This made it one of the top-selling albums of the 21st century.

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